Untitled

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10059, 5 August 1910, Page 7

A SHEEP-SHEARING CASE

A civil actioD in which some inter est is manifested was heard in the Magistrate Court at Masterton yes - tnrday, when Kei Paku, a Native, claimed from George Moore, junr., farmer, of Epaiaima, a sum of £l7 damages. Mr L\ A. Pownall appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr L. Bruce Moriaon, of Wellington, for the defendant.

Plaintiff, in hio evidence, allegea that in the month of September, 1909, he was engaged by another Native named Paku, the duly authorised agent of the defendant, as one of a gang of shearers to shear for the 1909 shearing season at tno defendant's property at Eparaima. The plaintiff made preparation to fulfil his engagement, and was within three miles of Eparaima on the way to fulfil the engagement when McRae, another member of the gang which had been engaged, returned to plaintiff after having presented himself to commence shearing, and informed plaintiff that it was useless for him or any of the other members of the gang to proceed to Eparaima, a« defendant had refused him, McKae, a stand at the shearing shed and told him that he iid not want any of the gang and that none of them need'go to Eparaima to shear. plaintiff alleged that he was put to considerable inconvenience, and lost other sheds through the refusa of the defendant to employ him, in consequence of which he claimed £l7

as damages. The defence wa3 similar to that raised in a casa previously heard before Mr Turton, S.M.. and which formed the subject of an appeal, viz , that the Native Paku had no authority to engage a ga.,g of shearers. After hearing the evidence cf "Joe" Paku, and &. Mcßae, Mr Pownall for the plaintiff asked for a non suit, which was granted by Mr Keid, S.M., with £9 lis costß.